Distractibility and symptoms in schizophrenia.

Distractibility was assessed in 59 inpatients with a relapse of schizophrenia and 3 mo later during a period of relative remission. Distractibility was measured with a digit span task and symptoms with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Although positive and negative symptoms improved significantly, the schizophrenia subjects' performance on the digit span task remained stable over time. There was no relationship between attention and symptoms. The possibility of distractibility being a vulnerability indicator for schizophrenia is discussed.